Adapter



Aug. 29, 1950 W- C. ROE

ADAPTER Filed June 24, 1946 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM C. ROE

'x atiaj ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 29, 1950 UNITED KDAPTER f Ohio Applicationju'ne 24, 1946,.Serial No. 678,739

MGletims.

Thisinvention relates to attaching means-such as those which areadaiited to secure and removabiyattachcasters andthe like at the endeof hollow furniture tubes, end more oartieiiieriy to improvements in suoh mea'n s; commonly celled a'daptersywhich employ expansible, dftenrubber or rubber-like, perts to removebiy eng-agethem teriors of such-tubes. This apfflieatibn is econtinua'tion in part-of my *eopendiiigemiiioetion, Serial No. 487,826, fiiedivre-y zo, 1943-, now Patent No. 2,430,737, issued November 11, 1947.

I am aware that othershave employedrubber or rubber-like expansible parmin adapters, but prior workersin theart as 'a rufe'have soughtto efiect diametric enlargement of the 'rribber pafts largely by direct longitudinal compression of substantially solid masses thereon sometimesraecompanied by or ill-tended tobe'eeeom enieety a Wedging expansion of the compressed met terial. These prior practioes have'giosed problems to Which my inventionis addressed'ee'ra solution. For example, when diazm'tri'cbxpMiSieitriseriUht from longitudinaleompreesion of a solid 'messrif rubber one is caught on'the'horfls ot a iiilemme. If the rubber be strong enoughto carry desiz'a'jble loads between the tube and eaeter' swd it will tend to require high eompressi've foroe "ibrmg about enough diametricel enlargement :to-fiserve any desirably allowable variations in size and shape between different tribe's andhdazptersito-be engaged. On the other hand if thembbe'r be sdft or weak enough to apbear'to permitenou h expansion for even a limited rangflof adapter-- bility under the influe'nce ordesir ably'fsmaii e'o'mpressive foroes it will be eorrespondingly weeik intransmitting loacls between the tube and the caster stud. Providing wedging surfaees -to expand. rubbei li ke partebrifigs'stlong enotherseries 0f difio'ulties and limitations that fl're era;- vated by the inherently high "fri'tidrt'th'it isfiesirable to have in the rubber for iteerigetgehfefit with the tube. {fa-10w wedgtrig 'a'ziig'le is used for its mechanical advantage 'i t nlay be difiiciiltif not substantially impoesible bo -bring aboute release or disengagement of :ther arte.

If a higher wedging angle is emliioye'd ceorre spondingly greater effort' is reqfiired to effe'et the desired expansionuntil on'e approaches the "condition of direct compression above mentioned. Combining a v /edging aotionwvith le'cidilyieompression of the rubber oornbines'me iiifiieulties and aggravatioris thereof end-edds awhwardneee sinoe'the partof rubber'thatiis'expafided into coritaet'with the tube reei'stsby itsigiripiupon'the *tube the forcesinten'dedto be transniitteditoathe 2 perteor tneeubber not 'difeetly expanded by the weaee. Ifexoaneion of the Hatter part is not erreetewby: direct oompression its service is dost end'rio intended eombiiied efieete are obtained.

inverrtion turris away from these 'prior end-*me toroe's are so "applied that the mid-tortioris oi tiie walls of the sleevebulge outwardly i'nto ame g gferatedbarrel-lilre form 'asthe ends ere'imroibly fi iOVdtDEthr Wh61etitth tirewatn's viewd initireiorosssetion are bowed orbenied ozitwaii dly im til "eontaot with a satisfactory gi'l p moon the :edieoent eurraees ot the tuloe is had. If the rubber-like sleeves be substantially eyi'i'nfirieeli 'rifithei'r i'dle position and the interior of th'e tube be squarewthen the inherent nature or theoperation of my invention permits the greater bulging of one walls to proee'ectin' the direetion of the diargonai of the-s uare :whiisfithe iles'ser' zbuleiii'gl' is weonfined by the sides .tor the s'tiuate first having"coritaictwith"the wahsi of the ere-eve. By the eni-ploymettt of reieztivly'thin wen :rribber sleves :or expanders i: 1 am able to effect a distribi'l'tidn at the grip end a; distribution of the'unit-pressure between the expander anti the time b'oth longitudinally and ei'reumferentietll y whetewith "to erihenee the eidaptabili-ty 'of the deti'oe to' :diuerent sizes, sha es "and ootidltiofis of ti'i1bi'ng.

In the practice of my invention Ihavefiobserved mil-analogyibetweemthe operationm myirubber- :itke leaves owexwmdersend theeparations of marrow 1 cylindrical etruotural: columns, hev n ig re gerdaiorztite-greatfilifiererree inmaterials. Thazt is @to way, .1 have ifound rit rprererable that ith'e ilen'lthmf the sleeves he lessth'aniwhat is'termed Pa; mung ccolumn which itends tofail by 'bending i ts exis a rather than by bulging rite walls I outwardly underwexielly imposed loads 213 1 the sameen- Eulogy :I .prefer that theilength ofimy sl'eeves or expanders inn'relation to the WaiH -thioknessemd diameterfithereofbe not -so short 'as to aches-a verynshortzreolmnn or' pier r m' which the weils will betmereiy thiokened under-axialloadmather than bowedzor belliect outwardly to have the' chemcter i'istto'mocteiof 'opemtion: oi myfirwention. :Byzprm portioning the rubber or rubber-like sleeves of my invention to have the characteristic mode of operation that I obtain I am able to get a wide range of efiicient expansion while retaining de-- sirable load bearing characteristics and strength, and I am able to effect the expansion and strong gripping and supporting effects by the exertion of very modest forces such as can be applied by the hands and fingers throughout the range of sizes of tubes and adapters as ordinarily found in furniture tubes wherein my adapter is widely used.

It is thus an object of my invention to provide an adapter employing the novel principle and achieving the benefits and advantages above discussed.

It is also among the objects of my invention to provide an expansible adapter employing resilient rubber-like means which is simple in design and construction, efiicient in use and economical in manufacture. It is another object to provide an adapter which may be readily adjusted and put to its intended use with the application of a modest, manual effort, and with desirably even distribution of strong grippin forces. Another object is to avoid the danger of damaging or distorting the tube either by excessive highly localized stresses or by injuring its finish or appearance as by distortion or unwitting contact with I wrenches, hammers, etc.

Another object is to provide an adapter with a wide range of adjustment and adaptability for .use with tubes of different size and different cross sectional shapes such as circular, square and hexagonal. A further object is to provide an adapter wherein relatively large tube gripping effects over wide areas of gripping engagement can be obtained with small effort and unusual ease of installation and removal. provide an adapter having shock absorbing qualities and which will tend to dampen vibration and reduce noise.

The foregoing and other objects will more fully appear from the following description of a preferred form of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing my adapter as first inserted within the end of a hollow furniture tube prior to substantial expansion thereof. Figure 2 is a similar longitudinal sectional view showing the parts with the adapter partially expanded to a position of initial contact with the interior of the tube. Figure 3 is a similar longitudinal sectional view showing the parts in a position of substantially full gripping engagement, and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in similar section of the end of a sleeve and supporting washer.

For purposes of illustration a preferred form of my invention is described with reference to a caster and adapter assembly I and a furniture tube 2, the open end of which comprises the socket into which the adapter is inserted and with the interior surface of which the adapter is expanded into engagement. Referring to Figure 1, the caster wheel 3 is shown conventionally mounted on a bracket 4 which is carried by means of a fitting and bearings, from a bearing casing or annulus 5. A caster stem or stud 6 securely fastened to the casing 5 extends vertically upward from the center thereof, its upper end being threaded and its lower end adjacent the upper face of the casing having an integrally acting enlargement preferably in the form of a nut 1 so that the casing, stud and nut may be A further object is to I rotated as a unit, either by applying torque to the nut or by turning the casing by hand. Fitting freely and closely centered on the stud and resting on the enlargement I is a plate or washer 8 the peripheral edge of which is preferably substantially the same size and shape as the outside of the lower end of the tube 2 and which contacts the end of the tube when the caster and adapter assembly is inserted into the tube. The washer 8 is centrally dished as at 9 wherewith to form an annular shoulder Ill on its upper face which delimits the inward edge of the annular surface I I upon the inner portion of which the lower edge of the right cylindrical or somewhat barrel shaped rubber or rubber-like sleeve or expander I2 is seated. Preferably the shoulder IE] is of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the sleeve I2 wherewith the sleeve is centered with respect to the washer 8 and the stud E5. Preferably the outside diameter of particularly the ends of the sleeve I2, as well as of the mid-portions thereof when the parts are in substantially idle position substantially as shown in Figure 1, is measurably less than the inside diameter or at least transverse dimension of the socket of the tube 2 whereby to permit an initial free bending of the walls of the sleeve before making initial contact with the tube as will more fully appear below.

Resting upon and centering the upper end of the sleeve or expander with respect to the axis of the stud is a Washer I3 having a free but close sliding and rotatable fit with the stud 6 and whose central portion is dished downwardly, as viewed, providing an annular shoulder I4, which corresponds to the annular shoulder ill of the washer 8 and has the same relation to and coaction with the inner edge of the top end of the sleeve I2 as has the shoulder. I0 with the lower end and edge thereof. The washer I3 also comprises a flat annular portion I5 extending beyond the shoulder M a radial distance somewhat greater than the thickness of the wall of the sleeve I2 wherewith to form a bearing surface for the upper end of the sleeve. I prefer that the diameter of the washer I3 exceed the outside diameter of the end of the sleeve i2 by a modest amount to insure against the washer tending to telescope within the sleeve under axial pressure and to space the sleeve from the socket.

In this preferred form of my invention I provide a second sleeve 22 which may be identical with the sleeve I2 having its lower end bearing on a centering washer 2I that may be identical with the washer I3 with its dished central portion facin upwardly as shown, and I also provide for the upper end of the sleeve 22 a washer 23 that is identical with the washer I3 and similarly disposed Wherewith to center and engage the upper end of the sleeve 22.

Threaded on the upper portion of the stud B is a nut I8 which through an appropriate lock Washer I'I engages the washer 23 wherewith downward threading motion of the nut I8 relative to the stud B forces the washer downwardly and exerts an axial compressive force upon the ends of the sleeves I2 and 22, which force is equally distributed between the sleeves by virtue of the freedom of movement of the washers I3, 2| and 23 longitudinally of the stud. Once the nut I8 through the lock washer IT has contact and frictional engagement with the washer 23 then threading torque and motion may be transmitted to the nut relative to the stud from the bottom washer 8 through the sleeves and washers l3, 12f and: 23 since. they ;have .contactandwiriction on.a much greater radiuszthan .thepitch radius ofthe threads. of thenut l8 .and..stud.-,6. Whiletheedapter isfree ofwthertube it. is.practicable. to-first spin the nut down the stud. to...an initial contact with thewasher. 23. Thereafter continued relative rotation between. the washer. 8 and thecasingi will continue .to compress the assembly of washers and sleeves. Assuggested in Figure 1,I prefer that. the. assembly be. slightly precompressed, bulging the sleevesa little,when theadapter is'first inserted into the socket of the tube. Thereafterthe washer 3 cansbe held manuallywhilstthe stud is. rotated to e'fiectiurther. expansion of the sleeves. ,As the, expansion proceeds, of. Figs. 1, Zand 3, the sleeves will frictionally engage the socketwherewith. toholdthe nutlnonerotatable with respect thereto so that the remainingincrem-ents of desirablescrewing movement between the nut and the stud can be obtained'by rotation of the stud relativertothe tube withoutmanualrestraint of the washer 8.

Preferably the sleeves or expanders l2 and 22 are hollow right cylindrical. tough, about 50 to 70 durometer, rubber or rubber-like elements with their ends cut square whereby to seat squarelyon the fiat radial surfaces ofthe several centering washers respectively. The washers 8, l3, 2|:and 23 are preferably punched and pressed from metal stock of quality such asto take theloads required, but it isnotof disadvantage that the peripheral parts. of'the washerssuchasll andxZ' yield a little withrespect to thecentral partstas thesleevesare compressed since such yielding would tend to incline the-ends of-the sleeves in harmony with thedesired outward bending and bulging oi the walls. This effect may be enhanced when :desired byiinserting a spacerbetween the central dished parts of the washers l3 and 21 wherewith to space: the sleeve supporting parts thereof enough to permit a desired degree cfflexing as the walls. of the sleeves bend.

As mentioned above the'shape, size and-charactor of the expanders relative-tothe socket of the-@tube and associatedparts-influences the'eihciency and =mode of operation of l the 1 invention. The following example is stated: by way of illustration 1 rather than limitation. I have found :it practicable to employ with a circular cylindrical socket tube of about 215" internal diameter. sleeves l2 and 22 each about 1..25"n1ong, about 11.8 external diameter with walls of uniform thickness about 0.2 thick, washers'lit'fiil:andfifi about :2.0" in I diameter, washer .8 corresponding to the 'O.'D. of the end of the socket, and astud about /2 in diameter and alittle more than3 .by approximately /3 when .the adapter :as a

whole'is'inserted'into the socket as. shown inrFigureil. The interiorsurfaces Oflthfi sleeves were widelyspaced from the stud. Aftentheassembly is:inserted in the socket further turning of the stud relative to thenut lBexerts increasing axial force uponthe ends of the sleeveassemblyand continues the bellying and outward bulging of :the sleeves or .expanders, bending rather than thickening the walls thereof until-the mid-poritionsof the walls have contact with zthe:socke.t substantially as shown in "Figure 2. Thereafter continued :turning of the stud .will continue :to

shorten. the whole .assembly wherewith to aincrease-the area-of contact between the expanders andthesocketand to increase. the grip therebetweentuntil the, parts havethe desired security of engagement. Reverse rotation of the stud releases .the grip between the parts whilst the sleeves .exerttheir-inherent tendency to resume their. cylindrical or elongated form.

.;It,is.t0 beinoted, however, that after the walls of the expanders begin to bend outwardly as shown, ,but .small additional increase of axial force is required toeffect a large increase in the bending of the walls whereby relatively light torque exertedthrough the stud readily increases the bendingof the walls of the expanders through aWiderangeof expansion. Moreover after the expanders have first contacted the socket as shown inF'igure 2, additional compression of the sleeves, longitudinally causes the degree of bendins .Qf the walls thereof to be more acute. Thus muchgas-a togglehas an increasing mechanical advantage asrthe angle between the legs thereof .isdecreasedlmy invention takes increasing advantage of additional increments of axial thrust toenhance the radial grip between the sleeves and the socket. Unlike a toggle, however, my expanders achieve an increasing area of contact with thewalls of the socket as the lengths of the .expanders arereduced by axial thrust whereby an increasing grip between the adapter and the socket is advantageously elfected without risking undesirably high unit pressures between localized -partsoftheadapter and the socket.

,It isdesirableto have the external surfaces particularly of the ends of: the expansible sleeves of smallerexternal diameter than the internal diameter or mean internal transverse dimension of the socket wherewith to permit and/or induce the beginning of or-at least a net effective bendirig action :of the walls of the expanders where with to take advantage of and initiate the togglelike geffect above mentioned. After the expanders have well or fully engaged the socket the mid portions, i. e., the engaged portions, of the expanders conform to the shape of the socket while theportions of the expanders between the ends and the middle tend to lie in compound re verse curves, Figure 3, or if the size of the socket permits orrequires greater bulging of the wall of the expanders the ends of the expanders may come to have a more directabutting relation to the shoulders such as It and I l of the washers as shown iii-Figure 4.

Assuming the Washer 8 has light peripheral contact with theend of the socket when contact between-the expanders and theinterior of the socket is first eiiectedas shown in Figure 2, the progressive longitudinal contraction of the expanders to and toward the condition shown in Figure 3 willtend to draw the washer B into an increasingly snug contact with the end of the tube. Afterithe furniture and caster have been usedf-or a modest timeand subjected to lateral loads and @shocksas the caster wheel may be iovedover uneven surfaces the washer 8 tends totacquire aspaced relationship from the end of the tubecommensurate with the tipping of the stud from its co-axial place in the socket by thershocksand lateral forces transmitted from thecaster. After the washer 8 becomes slightly spacedirom the end of the tube by such usage it hasano further tendency to increase its spacing since such forces andshock are fully absorbed directly-betweenzthe sleevesand the socket. This desirable spaced relationship may be achieved in .thenrstdnstanceby' manually spacing the washer away from the end of the tube when the parts are otherwise in about the state shown in Figure 2 and then carrying out the radial expansion and longitudinal compression of the adapter as a whole until an efficient load bearing grip is obtained between the adapter and the socket and the washer is drawn toward but short of direct or tight contact with the end of the tube. Particularly when the washer 8 is slightly out of contact with the end of the tube is there complete cushion and shock absorbing relation between the caster and the tube. When the washer 8 has some or complete contact with the end of the tube there is still a desirable shock absorbing relationship between the caster and the tube especially in respect to transverse loads and cornponents thereof between the stud and the socket as the same are transmitted through the sleeves. It is also practicable to insert a rubber gasket, preferably from about is" to e" thick, between the end of the tube and the adjacent face of the gasket. This avoids initial direct metal to metal contact and insures initial resilience without impairing the desirable mode of operation and results above described.

Depending somewhat upon the service to-be performed by my adapter one may employ the two sleeves l2 and 22 in the arrangement herein shown, or employ but one sleeve or a number greater than two as may be most desirable within the fundamental principles of my invention. It may be noted as one of the advantages of my invention that when two or more expander sleeves are employed it is not vital to successful operation that the sleeves have identical response to the axial force imposed upon them since one sleeve may begin its axial bending action before the other, but upon contact between the more easily bent sleeve and the socket it will have the support of the socket wherewith to induce the less easily bent sleeve to begin or increase its desired bendin action.

I have mentioned a preference for straight cylindrical sleeves since this form suggests economy of production as by merely cutting of desired lengths from a long rubber tube, and as suggested in Fig. 1 such sleeves will upon a light axial compression take a barrel-shaped form. Thus it is entirely within the precepts of this invention as taught in my copending application that the sleeves be formed or molded in the first instance to have their walls bulged somewhat in the absence of axial compression. Forming the sleeves in barrel form in the first instance or forming the walls of the sleeves tapered or treated in such ways as to encourage or stimulate the outward bending or bulging thereof to realize the characteristic mode of operation of my invention is more fully illustrated in my copending application, wherein it is also taught to cut, cup or groove the sleeves to aid the initiation of the desired bulging action in supplement to the bulging propensity inherent from the proportioning of the length, wall thickness, etc., of sleeves of uniform wall thickness as emphasized herein. While I have emphasized my preference herein for the form of circular cylindrical sleeves the utility and advantage of forms embodying my invention other than truly circular as for use with square or rectangular sockets will be evident to those skilled in the art and is more fully illustrated in my copending application.

I am not now aware of all the limitations of the relationships of the parts such as between the length, diameter and wall thickness of my expander sleeves with regard to the qualities and characteristics of the rubber or rubber-like material that may be conveniently available for the practice of my invention. My preference as mentioned above is for tough resilient rubber or rubber-like material. Generally speaking I have found it practicable to make the sleeves of length not greatly different from the external diameter thereof and of length from about three to seven times the wall thickness thereof, having reasonable regard for the proportioning of the sleeves in their entirety within the principles and precepts hereof. I have also found it practicable when using substantially circular cylindrical sleeves and circular cylindrical sockets to have the external diameter of the sleeve as measured at their ends smaller than the inside diameter of the socket by a distance ranging from a small fraction of to somewhat greater than the thickness of the wall of the sleeve. When the socket takes polyangular form and the sleeves are of substantially cylindrical form the external diameter of the sleeves as measured at their ends may more closely approach the transverse dimension of the sockets as measured between the centers of the diametrically opposite fiat walls thereof since the transverse dimensions of a polyangular socket as measured between diametrically opposite angled parts of the wall thereof will be correspondingly greater, wherewith to give a mean transverse dimension suficient to permit a mean initial toggle-like bending of the aggregate of the several portions of the walls of the sleeves. In all events the character and proportions of the expander sleeves which appear to obtain the best advantage of the principle of my invention lie in that range where the symmetrical outward bending of the walls is the characteristic result of axial compression of the sleeves as distinguished from the mere swelling and thickening of the walls of undesirably short thick walled sleeves and the mere kinking or axial bending of the sleeves as a whole which is char acteristic of sleeves that are too long and supple.

By way of further example I have found it com mercially practicable to provide four sizes of rubber expander sleeves to cover the range from 1" to 2" O. D. tubing in about the following way. For round tubing from about 1" to 1%" O. D., to 1%" I. D., or 1 outside square tubing, %2-" inside square, right circular cylindrical expander sleeves 1% long /32" O. D. with the /64" Wall thickness covers the range satisfactorily and with the characteristic operation above described. For round tubing from about 1% to O. D., 1% to 1 /32 I. D., or 1%" outside square tubing, 13 2- to 1%" inside square, similarly shaped expander sleeves 1%" long, 1 9g 0. D. with T e" wall thickness serve satisfactorily. For about 1 /2" to lf" O. D. round tubing, 1 to 1 /32" I. D., or 1 outside square tubing, 1 /32" to 11% inside square, similarly shaped expander sleeves 1%." long, 13%" O. D., with 3%" wall thickness serve satisfactorily. For round tubing from about 1%" to '2 O. D., 1%" to 1%" I. D., or 2" outside square tubing, 1 /32" inside square, similarly shaped expander sleeves 1%" long, 1%" O. D. with wall thickness serve satisfactorily.

While I have herein illustrated and described preferred forms and embodiments of my invention, changes, modifications and improvements therein will occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the practices and precepts hereof, and I do not care to be limited to any specific or preferred form herein particularly illustrated and described nor in any manner other than by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In combination a socket, a stud and means for detachably securing said stud in said socket in cushioned relation thereto, said means comprising when said socket and stud are secured together, at least one hollow stressed rubber-like part of uniform composition and uniform wall thickness and having an exaggerated barrel shape and having its mid-portion in external frictional engagement with the socket and its mid-portion radially spaced from the stud, having its ends spaced from the socket and connected with the stud and having its portions between the ends and the middle stressed and bent in cushioned load bearing relation between said socket and said stud.

2. The combination of claim 1 and means associated with said stud for exerting longitudinal compressive forces on said part including members adapted to bear on the ends of said part said members having annular seats and central portions adapted to extend slightly within the ends of said part.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which a plurality of said rubber-like parts are axially aligned with their adjacent ends closely disposed.

4. In an adapter for securing a caster stud or the like within a hollow socket in which compressive forces are applied to a tubular expander by means associated with said stud, the improvement which consists that the expander comprise a hollow tubular sleeve of uniform composition, which in its idle state comprises a right cylindrical sleeve of uniform wall thickness coaxial with said stud, whose outside surface is spaced from the wall of said socket, the thickness of the wall of the sleeve being small in relation to the length and diameter thereof whereby to induce outward bulging of the wall symmetrically about the axis of the stud under longitudinal compression, and which tubular sleeve in its working state takes symmetrical form of substantially uniform wall thickness whose central wall portion is curved radially outwardly into contact with the wall of said socket and whose inside diameters at every point along the length of the sleeve are not decreased relative to corresponding diameters in the idle state said tubular sleeve being made of rubber-like material having from about to '70 durometer hardness.

WILLIAM C. ROE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,879,429 Noelting et al Sept. 2'7, 1932 1,929,743 Jarvis et a1 Oct. 10, 1933 2,155,826 Herold Apr. 25, 1939 2,155,827 Herold Apr. 25, 1939 2,155,828 Herold Apr. 25, 1939 

